Collapsible drill pipe



July 12,1927. D Jv. SCOTT GOLLAPSIBLE DRILL PIPE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 15, 1924g July 12,1927. D J' SCOTT COLLAFSIBLE DRILL PIPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 yff Filed May 15, 1924 25 Z 1 July l 927 D. J. scoTT coLLAPsIBLE DRILL PIPE Filed May 15, 1924 s snee s-sheet 3 llllllllll fil.)

ther down Patented July 12, 1927. i

DAN J". SCOTT, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

C'OLLAPSIBLE DRILL IIPE.

Application sied May 15, 1924. serial No. 713,544.

L gether with such other objects and .advantages as may subsequently appear, this invention.consists in the construction and ar-y rangement ot parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 7 inclusive show longitudinal sections ot a well and elevational views ot strings ot drill pipe in various positions, said strings ot' drill pipe embodying my novel collapsible drill pipe,

Figure 1 shows the drilling apparatus in operative position,

Fig. 2 shows the drilling apparatus 'furthan in Fig. l, the kelly having reached its lowermost working position in a rotary table,

Fig. 3 shows the drilling apparatus in raised position preparatory to extend a collapsible tube of my invention,

Fig. 4 shows the drilling apparatus in raised position after a collapsible tube of my invention has been extended from the lower end, l Fig. 5 is similar to Fig..4 except that it shows the drilling apparatus lowered to a position nearthe rotary table to which it is convenient for locking the parts of my imlproved collapsible pipe after extension thereof,

Fig. 6 `shows the drilling apparatus in operative position after partly extending the collapsible drill pipe,

Fig. 7 shows lthe position requiring drill pipe,

drilling apparatus in Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section-oiga collap-r sible .drill pip-e broken away,

Fig. 9 isa transverse section taken on theline 94-9 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 1-0 is a longitudinal section of' the Jfurther extension of the collapsible tube shown in Fig. l, partly broken away, and showing the tube extended through its lower portion,

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal s-ection of the collapsible drill pipe shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and shows the same fully extended,

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a moditication of my collapsible pipe, the saine being broken away,

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 12, showing certain parts of Fig. 12 in positions assumed when the pipe is extended,

Fig. 14 is an elevational View ot the lower portion of Fig. 13, and v. Y Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section ot another modification ot my invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, the collapsible pipefoi my invention comprises anupper pipe section 17 and a lower pipe section 18 threadedly engaging each other at 20. A pin 21 is provided to prevent the two see'- tions from being accidently separated.

The upper section 17 has a taper 22, the periphery ot which converges towards a neck 23, the upper end 24 of which is enlarged and provided with a recessv 25. Adjacent the recess 25, theenlarged portion-24 is internally threaded to receive a kelly 26. Theupper section 17 is internally threaded to engagea threaded upper end portion 27 of a tubular section 28 to form a joint 27a. The section28 is formed integral with a pipe 29. The section28 is formed with a shoulder 30 adjacent its upper end portion 27. A rubber packer 31 is set in and encircles the section 28 andaring 32 threadedly engages the sec-i tion `28 adjacent the shoulder 30 to hold the packer 31 in place. The `section 28 is also formed with a shoulder 33 below which a reduced section 84 is provided with external threads 35. The section 34, which is contiguous with the pipe 29, is provid-ed with a recess 3,6, the boundary of which is threaded to engage a threaded lug 37 to torni a joint 37a. The lug S7 is formed integral with a tubular member 39 into which is setperipherally thereof a packer 40 in contact with the pipe 29. A ring 41 threadedly engages the member 39 to holdpthe packer 40 in place.

The member 39 comprises a reduced lower eind portion 42 provided with threads 43.

The pipe 29 externally threaded at its lower end to engage internal threads formed in the upper vend portion ot a pipe 44 and forming a joint which is secured by a pin 46. rllhe pipe 44 passes through the lower pipe section 18, the bottom ot which is provided with a peripherally threaded plate threadedly engaging internal threads formed in the lower end portion ot the section 18. rlhe plate 48 is provided with an aperture through which the pipe 44 passes with a working lit.

A coiled compression spring 49, encircling the pipe 44, is held between the upper surtace of the plate 48 and the lower surface of an apertured member 51, slidable in the section 18 and encircling the pipe 44 with a working lit.

The member 51 has a hexagonal perimeter, as shown in F A9, to prevent its turning relative to the correspondingly formed portion of the inner perimeter ot the section 18 over which it may slide. The member 51 is provided with aV tapered recess 52 to receive the threads 85 of the section 34 when the pipe is extended, and for that purpose the member 51 is internally threaded adjacent the aperture 52.

A collar 53 is formed internally in the pipe 44 and against this collar the member 51 is normally pressed by the action of the coiled spring 49. A collar 55 is formed internally in the pipe 44, against the lower surface of which a member 56 abuts. The member 56 is normally held in abutment against the collar 55 by a coiled compression spring 57, the lower end of which rests on a peripherally threaded plate 58 which engages internal threads in the lower ond portion ot the pipe 44.

The internal perimeter oi: the pipe 44 is hexagonal between the upper surface ot the plate 58 and the lower surface of the collar 55 to receive with a working tit the member 56, the external perimeter of which is hexagonal. The member 56 is provided with a tapered aperture GO adapted to engage the threaded section 42 ol the member 39 when the collapsible pipe is extended, and is therefore threaded adjacent the aperture 60 to receive the thr ads 43 of the member 42. A pipe 61 is formed integral with theA member 42 and passes through the aperture 6() and through the coil 57. The pipe 61 also passes through the plate 58 and with a working tit. The lower end of the pipe 61 is a tapered threaded portionv 62 adapted to be connected to a drill pipe 63 shown in Figs. l1 to 7 inelusive.

1When a string of drill pipe ot a given length has reached the lowermost working lapsible pipe to be extended, as shown in Fig. 4. The string of pipe is then let down to a convenient height above the rotary table 66, as shown in Fig. 5. In this position the threads on the member 42 bear against the threads adjacent the aperture 6() in the slidable member 56 and push the latter downwardly against the action oi" the coiled coinpression spring 57 until the lower surface ot' the member 39y rests on the upper surface ot the collar 60. By such arrangeinent the threads on the member 43 and the threads adjacent the aperture 60 are not liable to be injured. rlhe parts ot the extended colcolla-psible pipe may then be locked in position, preparatory to proceeding with the drilling operation.

1n order to locl the parts, the section 42 is threaded into the aperture 60 when the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 10. The string ot drill pipe may then be let down into the well, Vas shown in Fig; 6. lllhen the string ot' pipe of the length represented by F 6 has reached its lowermost working position, as shown in F ig. 7, the string ot drill pipe is then raised until the collapsible tube is above the rotary table 66. The joint 27a is then broken and the collapsible pipe may be extended until the shoulder of the member 28 rests on the collar 58, the lower threads of the section 34 coming into contact with the upper threads formed adjacent the recess 52 and pressing the slidable member 51 downwardly against the action of the coiled compression spring 49. The section 34 is then threaded into the recess 51, and the parts are thus locked, after which the string of drill pipe may be lowered into the well and the drilling proceeded with. Y

ln the modification shown in Figs. 12, 13.;

and 14, the rrollapsible drill pipe comprises an upper section threaded at 71 to a lower section 7 2. T he upper section 'mis provided at its upper end with internal flat-faced threads 73 to receive the threaded end oi the kelly 26. rl`he upper section 70 is provided with internal Hat-'faced threads 74 which engage external flat-faced threads 75 formed on a section 76 which is part of a body 77, having atits lower end a section 78 provided with external iiat-taced threads 79.. The body 77 is provided with a packer 80, A ring 81 threadedly engages the body 77 to lreep the packer 8O in place. The lower end of the section 79 is contiguous with a pipe 83. The lower end of the pipe 83 threadedly engages a pipe'84. The, lower end orn the pipe 84 is provided with internal fiat-faced threads 85 and the lower lend of the section 72 of the collapsible pipe is provided with internal flat-faced threads 86.

The section. 78 is recessed and provided with internal flat-faced threads 87,;which engage fiat-faced threads 88 formed'in a section 89 which forms part of a body 90 having at its lower end a section 91 pro-Y vided with external flat-faced threads 92.

The body is provided with a set-in packer 93 above which in engagement with the body 90 is a ring 9st to hold the packer 93 yin place. A pipe contiguous with the section 91 and passes through the pipe 34.

1n operating this collapsible tend the same, the joint which the section 89 makes with the sect-ion 7 3, is broken and the pipe extended, and the threads 92 ot' the section 91 may be made'to engage the threads 35 of the pipe 3st. Subsequent extension oi. the device comprises breaking the joint which the section 7 0 makes with the upper part 7 0 of the device and then extending the device and causing the threads 79 ot the section 78 to engage the threads 86 formed in the lower section 72 ot the device. The threads 79 and 36 are preferably so 'formed rthat theirengaging ends may be at right angles to each other when the pipe is cf;- tended, and for this purpose an arrow 96 is formed on the pipe 84 and an arrow 97 is formed on the pipe 95. The threads 79 and 86 are so formed that when the arrows 97 and 96 are in registration, the engaging ends of these threads will be at right angles to each other, as will also the engaging ends of the threads 92 and S5 when the tube is extended.

Fig. 15 illustrates still another inodiiica-y tion of my invention, which modification comprises a pipe 99 comprising an upper section 100 threaded at 101 to a lower section 102. rlhe pipe 99 connects with a pipe 103 which connects to a pipe 101i. rlhe pipe 99 is provided at its upper end with a tapered recess 105 to receive a kelly and threads adjacent the recess for lockingxthis pipe 'to the kelly. vA tapered recess 106 with threads adjacent this recess is formed in the pipe 99 to receive a threaded end 107 when the string of pipe is partly'collapsed.

The pipe 103 also comprises a threaded tapered section 108 which may be screwed into a member 109 slidable in the pipe 99. A coiled compression spring 110 is positioned within the pipe 99, encircling the pipe 103 and is held below the lower surface ot vthe membei109 and the upper surface of a plug 111 which threadedly engages the lower end ot Athe pipe 99. The lower end ot the pipe 103 comprises the tapered threaded section 106 which threadedly end portion of the pipe 104 when the string of pipe comprising pipes 99, 103 and 10d is extended.

The pipe 103 also comprises a tapered threaded portion 113 at its lower end which may be fitted into a corresponding recess when the string ot pipe is collapsed.

It will be readily seen that to collapse the pipe shown in Fig. 15. which 'is there shown in extended position, the member 108 may be unthreaded from the. member 109 and the pipe 99 let down until the end 107 is adjatube to exengages the upper modifications thereof may be from the spirit thereof, and J 4cent the recess 106 atter which the end 10iv may be threaded into this recess. Similar-- ly when the pipe 103 is to be positioned within thevpipe 104:, the section 100 is unthreaded from the upper end ot the pipe 104i and subsequently the end section 113 is threaded into a corresponding recess.

This invention has been described but devised without departing` it is tofbe understood that such modifications come within the scope ot this invention.

vWhat is claimed is:

1. A collapsible drill pipe tor wells, comprising a plurality of concentric pipes adapted to be locked together in collapsed and extended positions, and slidable locking members resiliently supported in certain o?. said pipes.r

2. A collapsible drill pipe comprising a plurality ot lconcentric pipes adapted to be collapsed or extended, and means including threads tor holding said pipe in collapsed or extended position.

3. A collapsible drill pipe including an outer pipe and an inner pip-e, threads formed adjacent each end within said outer pipe, a head formed upon said inner pipe, and threads formed upon said head adapted to engage the threads at either end ot said outer pipe, whereby said inner and outer pipes may be locked in collapsed or extended posit-ion.

1. A collapsible drill pipe including anouter pipe and an inner pipe,threads formed adjacent each end within said outer pipe, a' head 'formed upon said inner' pipe, threads formed upon said head adapted to engage the threads at either end of said outer pipe, whereby said inner and outer pipes may be locked in collapsed or extended position, and packing carried by saidhead adapted to bear against said outer pipe. c

5. A collapsible drill pipe including an outer pipe having its lower end provided with a collar in which is formed an aperture, an inner pipe slidable within said aperture, threads formed upon said inner pipe, threads termed in the upper portion of said aperture adapted to be engaged by the threads upon said inner pipe, whereby said pipes may be locked together in extended position, and packing carried by said inner pipe bearing upon the interior surface of said outer pipe as and for the purpose described.

6. A collapsible drill pipe including an outer pipe, an inner pipe, a third pipe disposed within said inner pipe, means for locking said -inner pipe within said outer pipe against rotation and against longitudinal movement within said outer pipe, means tor locking said third pipe against rotation and against longitudinal movement within said inner pipe, and packing means for preventllt? ing fluid flo-W between said inner and outer pipes and between said inner and third pipes.

7. A collapsible drill pipe comprising outer pipe and an inner pipe, a head formed upon said inner pipe, threads formed upon said head, threads formed upon the interior of said outer pipe engageable with the threads upon said head to look said outer and inner pipes together in collapsed position, an inwardly extending :Harige formed upon said outer pipe, a collar slidable Within said outer pipe about said inner pipe, spring means for resiliently maintainingsaid collar against said ilange, and threads formed upon said collar adapted to engage with the threads upon said head so as to look said inner and outer pipes in extended po sition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 naine to this specification.

' DAN J. SCOTT. 

